Of Fluid (e.g., Ink Flow Rate, Viscosity, Etc.) Patents (Class 347/6)
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Publication number: 20140354718Abstract: Provided is a printing device including: nozzles which discharge a first aqueous ink for printing a main image; nozzles which discharge a second aqueous ink for printing a background image; and a control unit which controls printing of an image on a medium having an aqueous ink absorption property based on one selected from a first mode for printing the main image using the first aqueous ink and a second mode for superposing and printing the main image using the first aqueous ink and the background image using the second aqueous ink, wherein the amount of first aqueous ink dischargeable per unit area of the medium when the main image is printed on the medium in the second mode is less than that when the main image is printed on the medium in the first mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Hidenori USUDA, Mitsuaki Yoshizawa
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Publication number: 20140354717Abstract: Among other things, an apparatus for use in fluid jetting is described. The apparatus comprises a printhead including a flow path and a nozzle in communication with the flow path that has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first container fluidically coupled to the first end of the flow path, a second container fluidically coupled to the second end of the flow path, and a controller. The first container has a first controllable internal pressure and the second container has a second controllable internal pressure. The controller controls the first internal pressure and the second internal pressure to have a fluid flow between the first container and the second container through the flow path in the printhead according to a first mode and a second mode. In either mode, at least a portion of the fluid flowing along the flow path is delivered to the nozzle when the nozzle is jetting.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventor: Andreas Bibl
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Publication number: 20140354716Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus of the present invention, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Riichi Saito, Noboru Toyama, Takaharu Aotani
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Patent number: 8899706Abstract: A recording apparatus, including: a tank mount on which a tank is mountable; a first casing; a second casing provided with the tank mount, connected to the first casing with a shaft, and pivotable between a close position and a distant position about the shaft; a judging section configured to judge whether a tank mount state is a middle-of-mounting state; a limitation portion configured to establish a limitation state for limiting the pivotal movement of the second casing at the close position and a release state for allowing the pivotal movement at the close position; and a limitation control section configured to control the limitation portion to establish the limitation state when the tank is in the middle-of-mounting state, and control the limitation portion to establish the release state when the tank is not in the middle-of-mounting state.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoyasu Yabuki
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Patent number: 8899707Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus capable of safe high-speed leakage detection and contact detection of a printhead. The leakage detection and contact detection are executed in the apparatus which prints on a printing medium by scanning a removable printhead mounted to a carriage. When the printhead is mounted, connection with a capacitor used in normal printing is disconnected, a lower voltage is applied to drive a printing element and monitor the voltage. If the monitored voltage is not less than a predetermined threshold, occurrence of a poor contact is determined. This is performed for electric contacts one by one. During the operation, a lower voltage is applied at a predetermined timing to drive a printing element and monitor the voltage. If the monitor voltage is not higher than a predetermined threshold, occurrence of current leakage is determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoya Teraji
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Patent number: 8894169Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, a sub tank, a carriage, a main tank, a liquid feed device, a displacement member, a first detector, a second detector, a detection retainer, a liquid consumption amount measuring device, and a supply controller. The measuring device measures a consumption amount of liquid in the sub tank when the displacement member displaces from a first position in a direction in which the consumption amount of liquid in the sub tank decreases. When a detection output of the first detector continues to be, for a predetermined time or number of times, in a detection state in which the first detector detects the displacement member and shifts from the detection state to a non detection state in which the first detector does not detect the displacement member, the measuring device starts measuring the consumption amount of liquid in the sub tank.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Suguru Masunaga, Takeyuki Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20140340438Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by discharging an ink composition onto a recording medium. The apparatus includes an ink jet head including a pressure-generating chamber containing an ink composition and applying a discharge pressure to the ink composition, a discharge port from which the ink composition is discharged, and a communicating path for communicating between the pressure-generating chamber and the discharge port. The ink composition is discharged from the discharge port at a discharge rate of 5 m/sec or more and 15 m/sec or less. The communicating path has a length of 40 ?m or more and 600 or less. The ink composition contains a self-dispersible pigment and an organic solvent having a Hansen solubility parameter of 14 (cal/cm3)1/2 or more and 16 (cal/cm3)1/2 or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masanao SATO, Satoshi KIMURA, Tomoyuki OKUYAMA
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Patent number: 8888204Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an inkjet printing apparatus that can print an image with high uniformity in image clarity and gloss level irrespective of the gradation value of the image. The print head of this invention can eject color inks and an image quality improvement liquid that changes at least the gloss level or image clarity of the image. The print head scans over same print areas of a print medium to form an image and at the same time applies the image quality improvement liquid onto the image. A control unit raises the volume of the image quality improvement liquid applied to unit areas in a relatively subsequent scan to the volume of the image quality improvement liquid applied to unit areas in a relatively preceding scan at a rate that corresponds to the volume of the color ink applied to the unit areas.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2011Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hinako Iritani, Hiroshi Tajika, Yuji Konno
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Patent number: 8888257Abstract: Providing is a liquid discharge head less susceptible to a standing wave occurred in a shared flow path; a liquid discharge device using the liquid discharge head; and a recording apparatus. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of liquid discharge pores; a plurality of liquid pressing chambers 210 respectively connected to the plurality of liquid discharge pores; a shared flow path 205a being long in one direction and being linked the plurality of liquid pressing chambers 210; a liquid supply path 205c which is connected to both ends of the shared flow path 205a, and has a larger cross-sectional area than the shared flow path 205a; and a plurality of pressing parts for respectively pressing liquid in the plurality of liquid pressing chambers 10. The cross-sectional area of a middle segment of the shared flow path 205a is smaller than the cross-sectional area of that of each of both end segments thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventors: Ayumu Matsumoto, Daisuke Hozumi
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Patent number: 8888206Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing material container 100 including a storage device 203, a plurality of storage device terminals, a first and a second individual mounting detection terminal DT1, DT2, a first and a second cartridge out detection terminal CO1, CO2; an individual mounting detection portion 330; a cartridge out detection portion 340; a storage portion 310; and a controller 350. In an energy-saving mode, the controller 350 sets the individual mounting detection portion 330 to a disabled state and sets the cartridge out detection portion 340 to an enabled state, and if the cartridge out detection portion 340 detects a cartridge out state, writes that detection result to the storage portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenichi Oe, Noboru Asauchi, Yasuhiko Kosugi
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Patent number: 8888207Abstract: A system employs combinations of marking media, each with respective distinguishing spectral characteristics to encode human comprehensible information in, and read human comprehensible information from, machine-readable indicia or symbols. Machine-readable indicia may be a single dot encoding information only in the combinations. Machine-readable symbols may be linear or two dimensional, spatially encoding information in the combinations, as well as spatially. A symbology may map at least the combinations to human-readable symbols or characters. A printer may form indicia or symbols with combinations of marking media. A reader may read indicia or symbols and decode information from at least the combinations of marking media. Different combinations may be visually homogenous, for example gray.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Visualant, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Furness, III, Brian T. Schowengerdt
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Patent number: 8888205Abstract: To provide a technique when printing using a light-shielding ink and a special glossy ink, the printing device includes an affixing part for affixing ink to a printing medium, and a controller for controlling ink volumes of a colored ink, a light-shielding ink having light-shielding properties, and a special glossy ink having special gloss. The controller has a field discriminating part for discriminating an overlap field of a light-shielding ink field and a special glossy ink field; and a part for allowing, in the overlap field, the ink volume of light-shielding ink to be brought lower than the ink volume of the light-shielding ink determined in accordance with the image data, irrespective of the overlap field.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Sakai, Mitsuhiro Yamashita, Seishin Yoshida
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Patent number: 8888208Abstract: A printing system includes an inkjet cartridge, an ink reservoir, and a reversible pump. A method and system of operating the printing system are providing in which first fluid line couples the ink reservoir and an input port of the inkjet cartridge. A second fluid line couples the reversible pump and an output port of the inkjet cartridge. The reversible pump is operated in a first direction to supply ink from the ink reservoir to the ink jet cartridge via the first fluid line. The reversible pump is a second direction to supply ink from the ink reservoir to the inkjet cartridge via the second fluid line. The reversible pump is operated in the first direction and the second direction repeatedly and sequentially for a predetermined duration.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons CompanyInventors: Theodore F. Cyman, Jr., Anthony V. Moscato
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Patent number: 8882213Abstract: Fluid ejection systems and methods thereof are disclosed in the present disclosure. The method includes establishing fluid communication between an ejection chamber and a fluid supply chamber of the fluid ejection system such that the ejection chamber includes a nozzle and an ejection member to selectively eject the fluid through the nozzle. The method also includes detecting at feast one impedance in the fluid by a sensor unit haying a sensor plate, and identifying the characteristic of the fluid by a fluid identification module based on the at least one detected impedance value to obtain an identified fluid characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Adam L. Ghozeil, Daryl E. Anderson, Andrew L. Van Brocklin
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Patent number: 8876269Abstract: An inkjet printer (100) has an ink tank (113), an ink head (110), an ink supply tube (112) configured to supply ink from the ink tank (113) to the ink head (110), an ink return tube (115) one end of which is connected to an upstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112) and the other end of which is connected to a downstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112), and a pump (116) configured to circulate the ink in the ink supply tube (112) and the ink return tube (115).Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2009Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Roland DG CorporationInventor: Taeko Hirano
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Patent number: 8870316Abstract: A system for measuring the viscosity of printing ink during a printing and ink correction process includes a printing press having an ink supply system, and an optical measuring device for measuring actual optical values of light that has interacted with at least parts of the printing picture. The printing press has an ink mass determination device to determine the weight of at least parts of the ink located in the ink supply system, and a control and evaluation device to receive measured values from the optical measuring device and from the ink mass determination device. The control and evaluation device determines an optical deviation, and, based on the optical deviation and the values from the weighing devices, an amount of corrective ink that is to be fed to the printing press in order to approximate the actual optical values to optical reference values.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KGInventors: Andreas Ihme, Frank Twiehaus, Martin Flaspoehler, Hendrik Tepe, Frank Dirksmeier
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Patent number: 8870315Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a pump mechanism for feeding ink to a recording head, a time counting unit capable of measuring a stop time determined by calculating a duration of time for which the ink was stopped from being fed to the recording head, an ink temperature detection unit, a first liquid feed control unit and a second liquid feed control unit. The first liquid feed control unit may instruct the pump mechanism to execute a preliminary purge when the measured stop time is not shorter than a first time. The second liquid feed control unit may instruct the pump mechanism to execute a main purge. And the second liquid feed control unit may set a flow rate in the main purge based on both the measured stop time and the detected ink temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: So Takahashi
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Patent number: 8870317Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, a head tank, a carriage, a main tank, a liquid feed device, a supply controller, a displacement member, a first detector, and a second detector. When a consumption amount of liquid in the head tank reaches a threshold value, the controller controls the feed device to start supplying the liquid from the main tank to the head tank. When printing operation is not performed and the displacement member is at a position at which a remaining amount of the liquid in the head tank is smaller than when the displacement member is at a first position, the controller controls the feed device to supply the liquid until the displacement member is placed at the first position or a position at which the remaining amount of the liquid is greater than when the displacement member is at the first position.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takeyuki Kobayashi, Suguru Masunaga
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Patent number: 8857932Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a print head; a head tank; a carriage; a main tank; a pump; a displaceable member or feeler; a first sensor; a second sensor; a controller to supply an amount of liquid ink corresponding to the displacement difference amount of the feeler to the head tank; and an environmental condition detector. The controller stores the environmental condition when the displacement difference amount is stored; corrects the stored displacement difference amount when a change in a current environmental condition relative to the stored environmental condition is more than a previously set first threshold amount and below a previously set second threshold amount being larger than the first threshold amount; and detects and stores the displacement difference amount again when the change in the current environmental condition relative to the stored environmental condition exceeds the second threshold amount.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takeyuki Kobayashi, Suguru Masunaga, Masanori Igarashi
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Patent number: 8851657Abstract: This hybrid ink get printer HIP includes; a print medium supply unit MS for supplying a print medium W; and a printing unit 4 for printing on the print medium W, the printing unit 4 comprising at least two print head units each configured from a print head that discharges ink, and a drying format differing between ink discharged by one of the print head units and ink discharged by another of the print head units.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai SeisakushoInventor: Noriyuki Shiba
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Publication number: 20140292843Abstract: The present disclosure is related to deposition of print treatments. In an example, treatment is to be deposited on substrate dot locations to receive ink according to selected treatment-to-ink regimes. The selected treatment-to-ink regimes include a variable treatment-to-ink regime and a constant treatment-to-ink regime. The variable treatment-to-ink regime is for depositing a variable amount of treatment dependent on the amount of ink to be deposited in a substrate dot location when the ink amount in the substrate dot location is below a threshold. The constant treatment-to-ink regime is for depositing a selected constant amount of treatment in a substrate dot location and an area surrounding the substrate dot location when the ink amount in the substrate dot location is above the threshold. Other examples are illustrated herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jaime Fernandez del Rio, Eduardo Amela Conesa, Jacint Humet Pous, Marc Serra Vall
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Publication number: 20140292845Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head and a control unit. The head discharges an imaging liquid for forming an image, and a supplementary liquid for supplementing the formation of the image with the imaging liquid onto a predetermined printing medium. The control unit is capable of selectively executing a first mode, in which the imaging liquid and the supplementary liquid are discharged from the head onto the predetermined printing medium, and a second mode, in which the imaging liquid is discharged from the head and the supplementary liquid is not discharged from the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akihiro TOYA
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Patent number: 8845049Abstract: In a case where a forcible detection execution flag is set to ON, the end position of the CR movement is changed and the acquiring range of the detection value “Is” is changed such that the movable range of the carriage is enlarged to a range that makes detection of an ink remaining amount by the ink sensor possible. Then, a print process for forcible detection is conducted in which the printing head and the carriage motor are controlled such that the printing head ejects ink while the carriage is moving in the enlarged movable range. Consequently, in a case where the forcible detection is requested, the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge installed in the carriage can be detected regardless of the printing area based on the print data.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Takumi Chiba
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Publication number: 20140285544Abstract: A method includes identifying a sufficient amount of printing fluid for a printhead to print a current swath and determining whether the sufficient amount of printing fluid is equal to or greater than a volume threshold value based on at least a second printing fluid volume capacity of a second region. The method also includes providing an amount of time after printing a previous swath and prior to a completion of printing the current swath for a second region to be supplied with an additional amount of printing fluid from a first region in response to a determination that the sufficient amount of printing fluid is equal to or greater than the volume threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2013Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.Inventors: Erik Kristofer Sjoberg, Jason M. Quintana
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Publication number: 20140253615Abstract: Many devices, such as printers, work with one or more removable unit. Often, the removable units have an electronic circuit that used to communicate with the device. It may be desirable to provide a replacement unit in these devices. The replacement unit must include an electronic circuit that is able to communicate with the original device. Disclosed is a method and apparatus where a replacement unit is provided with a new electronic circuit and a used electronic circuit. The new electronic circuit is electrically connected to the used electronic circuit and uses the used electronic circuit to facilitate communication with the host device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Static Control Components, Inc.Inventor: Michael Larkin Shelby
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Patent number: 8827392Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes heating portions for heating liquid, a liquid ejecting head for ejecting the liquid heated by the heating portions, and a maintenance device for performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting head by causing the liquid to be discharged from the liquid ejecting head through sucking operation. The maintenance device performs a first suction for cleaning the liquid ejecting head by causing the head to discharge the liquid, waits until liquid is heated by the heating portions, and then performs a second suction with a suction force weaker than that of the first suction.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroyuki Ito
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Patent number: 8827393Abstract: A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, a fluorescent material and optionally, a non-fluorescent colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. The novel phase change ink formulation allows the ink to change color when exposed to UV light, reversibly and multiple times, providing an ink suitable for use in security applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Gabriel Iftime, Daryl W. Vanbesien, Stephan V. Drappel, Jennifer L. Belelle, Adela Goredema
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Patent number: 8827425Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus configured to jet liquid droplets onto an object, including: a channel member in which a nozzle for jetting the liquid droplets and a liquid channel communicating with the nozzle are formed; an energy conversion element which is configured to apply a jetting energy to the liquid in the nozzle; a drive unit which is configured to supply a driving signal to the energy conversion element; a flow detecting sensor which is configured to detect a liquid flow inside the liquid channel; and a cabling member which includes a drive line connected to the energy conversion element, and a signal output line connected to the flow detecting sensor to transmit a detection signal corresponding to the liquid flow inside the liquid channel output from the flow detecting sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shuhei Hiwada
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Patent number: 8827394Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, head tanks, main tanks, liquid feed pumps, a first driving source, a drive control unit, and a drive switching assembly. The drive switching assembly includes a second driving source, a cam, a slider member, a switching gear, switching position detected portions, and a detector. The detected portions are disposed at the cam so as to correspond to switching positions of the liquid feed pumps. One of the detected portions has a greater width in a rotation direction of the cam than any other detected portion. When a time from when the detector detects one of the detected portions to when the detector detects another one of the detected portions is shorter than a threshold value, the drive control unit determines, as a home position, a position of the cam on detection of the another one with the detector.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2013Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Miwa
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Publication number: 20140247296Abstract: In the liquid container which includes the detection member having a liquid outlet, a contact portion, and an input receiving unit, the liquid outlet and the input receiving unit of the detection member are provided at a position apart from each other on the same bottom surface, and the contact portion is provided in the opposite side to the side where the input receiving unit is provided. It is possible to suppress foreign substances from becoming attached to the input section by providing the input receiving unit at the position apart from the any one of the liquid outlet and the contact portion since the liquid outlet and the contact portion have a section where foreign substances (liquid and chips) are easily generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2012Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroshi Nose
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Patent number: 8820914Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning Key (K) black ink printed by a production printer. In one embodiment, an ink tuning system is implemented in a printing system. The printing system includes a production printer that is operable to print color ink onto a continuous-form medium, and includes a radiant dryer that is operable to dry the ink that is applied to the medium. The ink tuning system identifies areas of K black ink designated for printing on the medium by the production printer, and applies a liquid agent to the areas of K black ink to increase the liquid mass of the K black ink before the medium enters the radiant dryer.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LtdInventors: Stuart J. Boland, Larry M. Ernst, Scott Johnson, William Edward Manchester, David M Price, Casey E. Walker
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Publication number: 20140240382Abstract: A printing device includes a head that has a plurality of nozzles, a reversing section for reversing a front surface and a back surface that are facing surfaces of a printing medium facing the head, and a control section for causing the head to execute an ejection operation of forming an image forming dot for printing an image designated as a print target and a flushing dot other than the image forming dot on the facing surface by moving either one of the printing medium and the head so as to relatively change the positions of the printing medium and the head and ejecting liquid from each of the nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akito SATO
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Patent number: 8814292Abstract: Inkjet printers are provided, in one aspect, an inkjet printer has an inkjet print engine that prints an image by jetting drops of hydrophilic liquid to form an inkjet image on a surface of at least one of a semi-absorbent recording medium or a non-absorbent recording medium; a transport system to transport the printed surface to a toner printer having a toner print engine to generate a liquid management toner image with toner particles that are at least in part hydrophilic and to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium where an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink will be present on the recording medium. A control system causes the inkjet printer to generate the inkjet image on the surface and causes the toner printer to generate a liquid management toner image that provides toner particles to manage an unabsorbed volume of the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai
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Patent number: 8814293Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection head has fluid ejection elements formed as thin film layers on a substrate. Fluid flow features on the substrate channel fluid from a fluid source to ejection chambers surrounding the ejection elements. A pump on the substrate circulates the fluid from the source to the ejection chambers and back again to the source. The flow refreshes the fluid in the chambers to minimize deleterious effects of evaporation. A controller coordinates the flow rate of the pump and other variables to optimize system productivity. Other embodiments contemplate pump locations, pump types, pump enumeration, and fluidic features, such as pathways, diffusers, chokes and dimensions, to name a few.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Timothy L. Strunk, Yimin Guan
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Patent number: 8814294Abstract: A pressure buffering unit is reduced in size, and thereby the effect of a flexible membrane is suppressed while the performance of the pressure buffering unit is maintained. A liquid supply device includes: a liquid supply passage which communicates with a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged; a liquid pressure applying part provided in the liquid supply passage that applies a predetermined pressure to liquid; and a pressure buffering unit provided en route in the liquid supply passage and being configured to include a liquid chamber having a supply port and a discharge port through which the liquid flowing through the liquid supply passage flows in and out, a gas chamber provided to oppose the liquid chamber, and a flexible membrane interposed therebetween, wherein the flexible membrane is provided with initial bending in advance.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Shibata
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Publication number: 20140225945Abstract: A printing system for printing on a print media includes a first printhead and a second printhead for printing on the print media. A first liquid supply module including a first liquid reservoir is in fluid communication with the first printhead and provides liquid from the first liquid reservoir to the first printhead. A second liquid supply module including a second liquid reservoir is in fluid communication with the second printhead and provides liquid from the second liquid reservoir to the second printhead. A liquid transfer module transfers liquid between the first liquid reservoir and the second liquid reservoir. A method of transferring liquid in the printing system is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Inventors: John L. Herman, Brian W. Gamble, Dan C. Lyman, David T. Heider, Russell L. Bartley, Rodney J. Stadum, Bradley A. Frazier, Michael J. Piatt
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Patent number: 8794725Abstract: A piezoelectric DOD printing system including a piezoelectric-based print engine, a micro pump, an ink line, a vacuum sensor, and control circuitry. The micro pump delivers ink from a cartridge reservoir to the print engine. The ink line fluidly connects an outlet of the micro pump with an inlet of the print engine. The vacuum sensor is fluidly connected to the ink line. The control circuitry is electrically coupled to the vacuum sensor and programmed to control operation of the print engine and the micro pump. The control circuitry activates and deactivates the micro pump based upon information from the vacuum sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Engage Technologies Corp.Inventors: Cris R. Miller, John E. Bateson, Yahua Li
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Patent number: 8789905Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, which discharges liquid from at least one nozzle on the basis of data, which includes a controller. When the controller is in a standby state and no liquid is being discharged from the at least one nozzle on the basis of the data, the controller performs a drawing operation wherein the liquid is drawn into the nozzle in a direction that is opposite to the direction that the ink is discharged from the at least one nozzle in order to form a space at a distal end portion of the at least one nozzle where no liquid is present.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2008Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Jun Shimazaki, Eiichiro Watanabe
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Publication number: 20140204136Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning Key (K) black ink printed by a production printer. In one embodiment, an ink tuning system is implemented in a printing system. The printing system includes a production printer that is operable to print color ink onto a continuous-form medium, and includes a radiant dryer that is operable to dry the ink that is applied to the medium. The ink tuning system identifies areas of K black ink designated for printing on the medium by the production printer, and applies a liquid agent to the areas of K black ink to increase the liquid mass of the K black ink before the medium enters the radiant dryer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Inventors: Stuart J. Boland, Larry M. Ernst, Scott Johnson, William Edward Manchester, David M. Price, Casey E. Walker
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Publication number: 20140198143Abstract: A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, a fluorescent material and optionally, a non-fluorescent colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. The novel phase change ink formulation allows the ink to change color when exposed to UV light, reversibly and multiple times, providing an ink suitable for use in security applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Gabriel Iftime, Daryl W. Vanbesien, Stephan V. Drappel, Jennifer L. Belelie, Adela Goredema
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Publication number: 20140198144Abstract: A backpressure control unit that introduces a liquid from an external liquid holding unit and supplies the liquid to a main head unit for ejecting the liquid via a nozzle opening includes a flow channel member having an introduction channel, a valve member, and a supply channel, and a cover that that combines a base portion and a cover portion and houses the flow channel member therewithin. This provides a backpressure control unit that improves yields by absorbing discrepancies in properties of backpressure control valves to the greatest extent possible while at the same time making it possible to change designs in a flexible manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroki Miyajima
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Patent number: 8777366Abstract: A liquid-discharging device includes a nozzle that discharges liquid including a substance having sedimentation properties, a liquid supply channel, an inspection part, stirring part and a control part. The inspection part brings the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle to a first electric potential by a first electrode, discharges the liquid toward a second electrode of a second electric potential, and inspects a discharge state of the liquid based on a change of an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The control part causes the nozzle to eject the liquid in order to substitute the liquid in an area downstream side than a predetermined area with the liquid stirred by the stirring part in the predetermined area. The control part determines a timing of ejection completion of the liquid based on the change of the electrostatic capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Shinya Komatsu
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Patent number: 8770686Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming an image on a surface of a recording material; a recording material passage; a treatment liquid applicator including a tray containing a treatment liquid, a first roller applying the treatment liquid to the surface of the recording material, and a second roller drawing the treatment liquid from the tray to supply the treatment liquid to the first roller; a liquid level inclination detector detecting whether the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined; a treatment liquid supplying device supplying the treatment liquid to the tray; and a controller connected with liquid level detector and the treatment liquid supplying device. The controller stops the operation of the treatment liquid supplying device when determining according to the detection result of the liquid level detector that the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined in a predetermined amount or more.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyoshi Komaba, Shinji Imoto, Satoshi Kitaoka, Seiji Hoshino, Shozo Sakura
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Patent number: 8770687Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a change detection device detecting a change in a relative position between an ink cartridge and a recording head, and when the change in the relative position exceeds a certain threshold value, a printer controller closes a valve mechanism so that the destruction of a meniscus in the nozzle is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Takeshi Ito
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Publication number: 20140184673Abstract: A new method for printing raised letters or images has been introduced, which is inexpensive, green and noiseless. The method can be carried out via personal computers (PC) or common ink-jet printers. A standard portable ink-jet printer is controlled by PC and common graphical softwares, that provide raised printing for different purposes such as Braille prints, security, packaging, advertising and printing of warning signs. The 3D ink-jet printing method comprises steps of providing two or more fluids having different formulation as inks. The mixture is cured and raised by jetting two inks in a controlled amount and mixing of inks on the substrate, without using electromagnetic radiation such as ultra violet (UV) or infra red (IR) or heating procedure. The prepared inks are water based, non-toxic, environmental friendly and have different compositions with optimum physical.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Inventor: Atasheh Soleimani-Gorgani
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Patent number: 8764144Abstract: Provided are method of controlling nozzles of an inkjet head and an apparatus for measuring the amounts of ink ejected from the nozzles of the inkjet head. The method includes: preparing a mass measuring device, which measures the mass of ink by using an oscillation change, in a pixel; ejecting ink into the pixel from a nozzle of the inkjet head, and measuring the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle by using the mass measuring device; and adjusting a voltage waveform applied to the nozzle of the inkjet head.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Tae-gyun Kim, Tae-woon Cha, Sang-il Kim
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Patent number: 8764180Abstract: Printing methods are provided. In one method an inkjet image is printed using an ink having a colorant with an electrical charge of a first polarity dispersed in a hydrophilic liquid carrier fluid with an electrical charge of a second polarity that is the opposite polarity of the first polarity. A colorant attracting toner image conforming to the inkjet image is generated using toner particles of the second polarity. The colorant attracting toner image is transferred in registration with an unabsorbed volume of the ink jet image on the receiver. The difference in polarity between the toner particles and the colorant attracts the colorant and the toner particles. The toner particles are fixed to the receiver. After fixing colorant attracted to the toner particles is bound to the toner particles so that removal of the toner from the receiver also removes any colorant attached to the toner from the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai
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Patent number: 8757745Abstract: The printing apparatus includes: a print unit to print on a medium using a pigment ink and a dye ink; a stir mechanism capable of stirring at least the pigment ink; and a control unit to perform control to make the duration of the stirring operation executed prior to starting the printing operation longer when the pigment ink is included in the ink to be used in the printing operation than when it is not.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kanto Kurasawa
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Patent number: 8757784Abstract: Ink for ink jet recording includes a coloring material and alkylpolyols, wherein the alkylpolyols include two or more types of first alkylpolyols having a log P value of greater than or equal to ?0.7 and less than or equal to 0.01, and a normal boiling point of greater than or equal to 180° C. and lower than or equal to 250° C., and the content of the alkylpolyols is greater than or equal to 5% by mass and less than or equal to 30% by mass.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Aoyama, Hidehiko Komatsu, Hitoshi Ohta, Takeshi Yano
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Publication number: 20140168296Abstract: When filling a printing head with ink, ink in a sub-tank is circulated through a forward path port, a forward path, the printing head, a return path, a return path port, and the sub-tank by pumping ink from the forward path port side to the printing head side by a circulation pump in a state where a plurality of nozzles is sealed by bringing a contact member of a capping device into contact with a nozzle formation surface. Thereafter, sealing of the plurality of nozzles by the capping device is released while pressurizing the sub-tank by a pressure adjusting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Kaoru KOIKE, Toshio KUMAGAI